Cogitate on This

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God. But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely. They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper. But for sinners, what a different story! They blow away like chaff before the wind. They are not safe on Judgment Day; they shall not stand among the godly. For the Lord watches over all the plans and paths of godly men, but the paths of the godless lead to doom. (Psalm 1)

God charts the road we take - are we staying on course with that charted path? Don't really know how to answer that question? Those who aren't quick to just accept whatever 'plan' or 'scheme' a man might set out before them - these are the ones who are staying the course. Those who keep company with upright and godly people who serve to spur them on in their walk - they are on course. Those who are eager in their obedience to the things of God - steady and sure. Those who listen intently and seek to learn all that God teaches - on course. How are you stacking up? On course?

Those who allow God to chart their course find themselves in a place of safety and continual renewal. While we are never without problems in this world, we can know this place of protection and 'refilling' by remaining on course with him. We might think this 'day and night meditating' thing is like some type of 'mystical trance' we must maintain, but it is merely calling him to mind as we go throughout our day - paying close attention the tiny nudges his Spirit brings - openly acknowledging we don't know what to do when we don't rather than just plotting on ahead in the darkness. Meditating is really 'ruminating' - a big word that describes the process of pondering.

Anyone who knows me will admit I am one who 'ponders'. I don't act quickly, unless life or limb is in danger. I research, ruminate a bit, research some more, ponder the things I have learned, and eventually make a move in the direction I want to go. It is a process of 'cogitation' I go through. As a matter of fact, I sometimes tell them I am going to have to 'cogitate' on it a bit - I am just admitting I need to ponder! I am going through the process of deliberating and reflecting - eventually I will have weighed the details and options before me - then I act. This isn't dragging my feet - it is me trying to be deliberate about the things I think God wants me to do, be engaged in, or leave behind.

How about you? Are you a 'cogitator' like me? Do you spend time ruminating over what God brings in your times of study with him until you see how the truth begins to affect your life? Do you find yourself seeking 'roots' instead of 'quick growth'? If this describes you - you are definitely on course! So keep going! You aren't dragging your feet - you are learning to live obediently and this may actually take some 'pondering'! Just sayin...

Be on God's side

Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right. (Abraham Lincoln)

I have never really understood how a nation can be so divided when it is has been given so much in terms of freedom, liberty, and foundation, yet we see this division all the time. There seems to be this great need to 'pick sides' and then remain firmly committed to the 'side' you picked. In school, I remember not so much 'picking sides' as being 'picked for a side'. There would be someone appointed as the 'team captain' and then the two captains would stand there and 'pick' their players one by one - taking turns so as to be 'fair' in the choosing. What you dreaded most was being amongst the last to be picked - because that really meant they didn't view you as worth much on the team. What this world refers to as 'sides' has existed since the beginning of time - it may have looked different in the Garden of Eden, but between the serpent and God (the two team 'captains') sides were being chosen!

You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. (John 15:16)

Notice that Jesus does not ask if God will be on our side - he asks us to be on his. He did the choosing - as the 'team captain', he selected us. Let me also assure you he didn't view us as the 'bottom of the barrel' picks, either! From the beginning of time, even before we were a twinkle in our daddy's eye, we were chosen as his. As with Lincoln, I say the most important thing to keep in mind is not that God is on our side, because he already is, but to remain faithfully on God's side until we each breathe our last breath on this earth. If we focus on God first in all things, then we can be assured God will always bring about the plans that are 'right' for our lives. 

I don't care what 'side' you pick in an election anymore than I are what color shirt you put on today. If you are comfortable in your choice, knowing God is behind you in your choice, then it is the right choice for you to make. I don't care what 'side' you pick when selecting whether you will drive a Ford or Dodge truck - if it gets you there, you like the ride, and you find the price point acceptable for the choice you make, so be it. There are choices we make each and every day - from the clothes we wear to the toothpaste we use when we scrub our teeth. In essence, every 'choice' is really us choosing 'sides'. There is but one 'choice' that we make that actually matters - the choice to embrace God as he has embraced us, or the choice to reject his embrace.

We aren't to forget that we are chosen - we didn't do the choosing. We choose whether to remain faithful to the 'side' we were chosen into, though. We can apply ourselves to getting to know God well, or we can just be 'bench-warmers' in the pews. This is where the 'side' makes all the difference. Remember the words of Christ - if you are not for me, you are against me (Luke 11:23). If you are not gathering, you are scattering - if you are not 'on my side', you are really against me. God calls us to take the 'right side' in any and all matters - that being the 'side' that chooses to serve him faithfully regardless of all the 'matters' going on around us. Just sayin!